Injuries - Heel Pain

Heel Pain In Youth Soccer Players

Soccer is becoming one of America's favorite youth past times. Nearly
fourteen million children under the age of 18 participated in youth soccer
leagues last year - compared to almost three million Little League Baseball
recruits. With the increase of young soccer athletes, there has been an
increase in the frequency of injuries to the foot and ankle. According to a
study that will soon be published in the journal "The Foot", the official
publication of the Journal of the American College of Foot and Ankle
Orthopedics and Medicine, an affiliate of the American Podiatric Medical
Association, the design of soccer cleats can contribute to injury in young
athletes. Podiatrists report that selecting the proper athletic footwear will
help reduce the risk of injury to the foot.

According to Perry Julien, DPM (Atlanta, GA) who is the team podiatrist for
Atlanta's professional soccer team, the Silverbacks, "heel pain is one of the
most common injuries in young soccer athletes." Many children are playing
soccer year-round, often three times a week. Over time, the frequency of play
could put a young soccer player at risk for calcaneal apophysitis (Sever's
Disease), the most common cause of heel pain in children between the ages of
8 and 16. Sever's Disease results from stress placed on the growth plate of
the heel bone. Excessive amounts of running or jumping causes inflammation to
the growth plate of the heel bone which causes pain and limits a young soccer
player's ability.

In the study, 36 youth soccer players, ages 8 to 11, from Mount Laurel, NJ
were selected to wear shoes with electronic sensor insoles that recorded a
"footprint" of their feet in motion. The study found that a soccer shoe
doesn't have the same shock absorbency quality as a running shoe. "All the
young athletes wearing a cleated shoe had a negative heel position," said the
study's author John Walter Jr., DPM and Professor and Chairman of Opthopedics
and Medicine at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in
Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Greg Ng, co-author, states that "a cleated shoe places
the foot in a position where the heel is lower than the toes (it's similar to
walking uphill). This causes pressure to be focused on the heel, causing
stress that can result in inflammation and pain."

Podiatrists say that it's important for athletes of all ages to pay careful
attention when selecting any type of athletic shoe including soccer cleats.
If heel pain or any type of foot pain is experienced, consulting a podiatric
physician is recommended. Not only can the podiatrist help you select the
proper shoes, but treat any foot problems that may occur.

Founded in 1912, the American Podiatric Medical Association is the nation's
leading professional society for foot and ankle specialists, with a
membership of over 10,000 doctors of podiatric medicine.

For heel pain try gentle calf stretches.The frequently seen runner's stretch,
leaning up against a wall for ten seconds and repeating 5 to 7 times is a
good stretch to try once a day. Toe curls, trying to pull a towel towards you
with your toes is another possibly helpful exercise. Don't ignore foot pain -
it is not normal. If the pain persists see a podiatric physician.

Heel Spurs : Growths of bone on the underside, forepart of the heel bone.
Heel spurs occur when the plantar tendon pulls at its attachment to the heel
bone. This area of the heel can later calcify to form a spur. With proper
warm-up and the use of appropriate athletic shoes, strain to the ligament can
be reduced.

Shin Splints: Pain to either side of the leg bone, caused by muscle or tendon
inflammation. It is commonly related to excessive foot pronation (collapsing
arch), but may be related to a muscle imbalance between opposing muscle
groups in the leg. Proper stretching and corrective orthoses (shoe inserts)
for pronation can help prevent shin splints.

For a free brochure on contact sports or other consumer information, visit
APMA's website.